Visconti overcomes the conditions for first win

The Movistar rider was part of an initial six-man breakaway group that pulled clear of the peloton with 82 kilometres remaining of the 145km stage out of Cesana Torines.

Visconti asserted his dominance as snow arrived to add more danger to an already-gruelling Alpine trek, the Italian eventually coming home in four hours 40 minutes and 52 seconds, 42 seconds clear of Carlos Betancur (Ag2R-La Mondiale).

Overall race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) came home 12 seconds further back, alongside his nearest challengers for the pink jersey, Cadel Evans (BMC), Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky) and Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini).

Heading into today’s rest day, Nibali’s lead in the general classification remains at 86 seconds over Evans, while Uran and Santambrogio are almost three minutes down.

Yesterday’s stage only got the green light after race organisers and local officials agreed to shorten the distance by four kilometres, thereby missing the worst of the sub-zero conditions expected at the very summit of the fearsome Col du Galibier.

After the rain, snow and fog that blighted Saturday’s 14th stage, the riders appeared to take the decision to neutralise the day’s first climb on the Col du Mont Cenis, with the first serious breakaway not coming until that summit was cleared.

Visconti was in the mix when the break came with 82km to go, pulling away with Stefano Pirazzi, Francesco Bongiorno, Robinson Chalapud, Pieter Weening and Matteo Rabottini.

It fell to Visconti to make the decisive move, hitting the front with a little under 25km remaining, eventually coming home for a famous victory.

In-form Keighley cyclist Tom Moses was crowned Yorkshire Road Race Champion after a strong performance in the title race near Harrogate yesterday.

The 21-year-old from Oakworth took a solo win after a gruelling 85-mile race using a circuit high on the moors which whittled the original 60-strong field down to just 10 leaders by the last lap.

Doncaster’s Tom Stewart (Sportscover) took second spot after a hard chase, while seasoned pro Dean Downing (Madison Genesis) took third.

The women’s 36-mile race was won by Jessie Walker (Matrix Fitness) from Aston, near Sheffield, who beat Jessica Learmonth (BBM Revolution).

And Connor Swift (Bike Box Alan) was victorious in the junior race. Elsewhere, Catterick’s Tom Timothy (Achieve-Skinnergate Racing) won the North East Championships at Whalton in Northumberland.